In this three day lesson, students will learn about nineteenth century American songwriter Stephen Foster by reading a brief biography and completing a timeline about his life. Next, students will read the lyrics of Foster’s song “The White House Chair” and will connect the content of the lyrics with facts about the 1856 election. Finally, students will compose lyrics to a simple ballad about Foster’s life and the election of 1856.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. identify biographical facts about Stephen Foster (1826-1864).

2. identify historical facts about the United States during the span of Foster’s life.

3. describe how events in both Foster’s personal life and American history influenced his musical compositions

4. describe how Foster’s lyrics in “The White House Chair” related to James Buchanan and the election of 1856.

5. write lyrics for a simple ballad that tells about Foster’s life and/or the election of 1856.

Standards Alignment

Arts and Humanities

9.1.5. A. Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities.9.1.5. E. Knows and demonstrates how arts can communicate experiences, stories or emotions through the production of works in the arts9.2.3.H. Identify, describe and analyze the work of Pennsylvania Artists in dance, music, theatre and visual arts.9.2.5. A. Explain the historical, cultural, and social context of an individual work in the arts.9.2.5. D. Analyze a work of art from its historical and cultural perspective.9.2.5. D. Analyze a work of art from its historical and cultural perspective.9.2.5.H. Identify, describe, and analyze the work of Pennsylvania Artists in dance, music, theatre and visual arts.

R5.A.1.1.1. Identify and/or interpret meaning of multiple-meaning words used in text.R5.A.1.3.1. Make inferences and/or draw conclusions based on information from text.R5.B.2.1.2. Identify, explain, interpret, and/or describe examples of similes in text.R8.A.2.5.1. Summarize the major points, processes, and/or events of a nonfictional text as a whole.R5.A.2.6.2. Identify, explain, and/or describe examples of text that support the author’s intended purpose.